Cigar-tip cutter.



A. H. MERRILL.

CIGAR TIP CUTTER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAE. 4, 1914.

Patented June 2, 1914.

[ma /entan- A JYMerrilZ ARTHUR H. MERRILL, or HARTFORD, coNnE'cTicu'r.

CIGAR-TIP CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 2, 1914:.

Application filed March 4, 1914. Serial No. 822,350.

To all whom it may c0ncern Be it known that l, ARTHUR H. MERRILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oigar-Tip Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cigar-tip cutters, the object of the invention being to provide a simple, inexpensive and light article of this character which occupies but a small amount of space and which can be easily and readily operated to cleanly and effectively sever the tip of a cigar therefrom.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification I have shown in detail one of the several convenient forms of embodiment of the invention, which to enable those skilled in the art to practice the same will be set forth fully in the following description. I do not restrict myself to this particular construction; I may depart therefrom in several respects within the scope of the invention defined by the claim following said description.

Referring to said drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation, Fig. 2 a front elevation, Fig. 3 a longitudinal sectional view, and, Fig. ia bottom plan view of a cigar-tip cutter involving my invention shown as closed in Fig. 2 and as open in Figs. 3 and 41.

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

My cigar tip cutter comprises two legs or branches and is provided with means for normally separating said legs or branches. This result can be easily obtained by yieldingly connecting said branches. For example I might take a strip of resilient material and bend the same on itself to obtain such relation as owing to the resiliency of the material the constant tendency is for these branches to be automatically opened. The branches are provided with inturned flanges, one flange having a cigar-tip-receiving opening, and the other a cuttingedge to sever the tip of the cigar, extending through said opening. Suitable means operable at the will of the user are provided for moving said branches relatively toward each other during which the two flanges will travel ap proximately in contact to cut oil the tip.

With the foregoing general observations 1 will now refer more in detail to the form of the device illustrated in the drawings. The cutter includes the duplicate branches 2 and 3, the construction being such that these branches tend normally to separate or spread apart which condition can be best obtained by making the device from a strip of spring metal bent or doubled on itself into approximately V-shape, the bend, however, being somewhat roundcd as shown at 4 to form a loop or eye. The article may be worn as a watch-charm or can be carried in the pocket. When used as a pendent or watchcharm it may be equipped with a ring 5 connected with the loop or eye 4. The branches 2 and 3 are furnished with inwardly-extending flanges 6 and 7. As shown the outer face of the flange 7 rides along the inner face of the flange 6. Usually but not essentially, the engaging faces of the two flanges, are formed upon an arc struck from the common center of motion of said two legs or branches. The flange 6 has an opening 8 (shown as circular), while the free edge of the flange 7 is beveled at 9 to produce a cutting edge. In Figs. 3 and L the branches or legs 2 and 3 are shown separated or opened their maximum extent. lVhen in this relation a cigar tip can be freely passed into the circular hole 8 following which the branches 2 and 3 can be moved relatively toward each other to cause the cutting edge 9 to pass through the tip of the cigar and thereby sever the same as shown in Fig. 2.

Any desirable means may be provided for closing or imparting an operative movement to the device, although those shown and now to be described, have been found satisfactory. The branches 2 and 3 are longitudinally slotted as at 10 and 11 to receive the pin 12, the ends of which are headed as at 13 exteriorly of the said branches 2 and 3. The heads 13 not only prevent accidental displacement of the operating-pin or stud 12 but also act as a convenient means for directly moving said branches toward each other. Said branches 2 and 3 are shown having outwardly-diverging faces 14,

the peripheries of the heads 13 when the article is in its open position resting against the entering or upper ends of said faces 1d. As the pin 12 is moved toward the flanged portions of said branches the inner flat faces of the heads 13 ride along the inclined or cam faces 14 thereby moving said branches toward each other to cause the flange 7 to traverse the flange 8. Said branches 2 and 3 in addition to the operative faces 14 are provided with rest or looking faces 15 which are approximately in parallelism with each other. Vhen the heads 13 have passed off the faces 14, the maximum inward movement of the branches 2 and 3 having occurred at this time, they ride onto the faces 15, so that the device can be positively maintained in its closed relation. The function in question is permitted in view of the fact that the longitudinal slots 11 and 12 intersect the cam and locking faces 1 1 and 15 respectively of the branches of the cutter. In manipulating the article the thumb and index finger of one of the hands can grip be tween them the heads 13 of the pin 12 and can slide the said pin outwardly along the slots 10 to move the branches 2 and 3 toward each other to clip the cigar, and if desired to lock the cutter in its closed relation.

YVhat I claim is:

A cigar tip cutter formed from a strip of resilient material bent on itself to present two branches which tend constantly in themselves to separate, each branch having an inwardly extending flange, one flange having a cigar tip receiving hole and the other a cutting edge, and a pin, the branches being longitudinally slotted to receive the pin for sliding movement longitudinally of said branches, the pin having heads at its ends and the branches having outwardly diverging cam faces along which said heads are adapted to ride to move the branches toward each other and to cause the flange with the cutting edge to travel against the flange with the hole, and said branches also having locking faces to receive said heads to lock the branches in closed relation, the 1011- gitudinal slots in said branches intersecting the cam and locking faces of the respective branches.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ARTHUR H. MERRILL.

Witnesses:

HEATH SUTHERLAND, L. L. MARKEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

